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Virgil Staeffler

Lead Summary

Virgil Gust Staeffler, 90, Hardwick, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
A funeral service was Saturday, Sept. 12, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hardwick. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Virgil Staeffler was born May 27, 1925, to Alfred and Rosa (Wahlert) Staeffler in his grandmother’s house near Luverne. He was raised on the family farmstead east of Hardwick. He attended country school through the eighth grade and then became a full-time farmer.
On Dec. 6, 1944, he married Marjorie Nece at the Methodist Church parsonage in Luverne. Together they lived and worked on the family farm. He formally retired in October 1988, but it was actually a gradual process over several years. A tornado in June 1993 took most of the farm away though he and Marjorie persisted and continued to live there. Marjorie preceded him in death on July 21, 2015.
Virgil was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. He enjoyed working and having his cattle around. He enjoyed playing cards, shooting pool, and fishing. His pastimes in later years included bird watching and feeding birds, family grill-outs, feeding the cats and keeping his John Deere in tip top shape to mow the lawn. He also enjoyed handling the reins of his horses for hayrides through the countryside.
Virgil is survived by seven children, Geraldine (James) Haraldson, Gary (Jean) Staeffler, all of Luverne, Debra (Daniel) Nelson, Magnolia, Rhonda Edwards, Spirit Lake, Iowa, Rodney (Ruth) Staeffler, Ruthton, Carol (Lance) Stueven, Hudson, Wisconsin, Greg Staeffler, Hardwick, and his friend Sheryl; a son-in-law, Arlyn (Rose) Vander Beek, Edgerton; 24 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; a sister, Delores (John) Schmidt, Pipestone; and a sister-law, Joanne Lingbeck, Edina.
Virgil was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; his parents; a son, Larry Staeffler; a daughter, Sandra Vander Beek; two grandsons, Kelly Staeffler and Michael Vander Beek; and a great-granddaughter, Ashlynn Haraldson.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
(0917 F)

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